I
Iota
Guest
Seem to get a lot for your money, any views on buiild quality etc?
thanks
thanks
Sailfree
Well-Known Member
Our 1st big boat was a 1998 Dufour 36 Classic - I do not believe they made any changes to this boat during its production run. I think it was hull No 16 and a man appeared one day and strengthened the rudder tube where it projects from the Hull- never buy one of the 1st of anything!
Boat was on charter with Hamble School of Yachting and it was well used in the 3 years we owned it. As it was one of the most seaworthy boats it was always 1st choice to sail to Belguim on a Sunday night for the weeks prep Yachtmaster course where miles also counts. It went out in all weathers. I believe it is still with Hamble Sschool of Yachting 11 years later now called Classic Dream.
I think its constant use with a sailing school is a strong testiment to its robustness and durability.
We part-ex'd it 3 yrs latter for a Dufour 38 which is a better sailing boat.
Only probs we had was with the Volvo bits on both the 36 & 38 (between both boats and over 3 years each the gearbox, clutch, folding propeller and engine had to be changed) hence I would now only buy a boat with Yanmar engine but others seem to be more fortunate but perhaps their boats get used less.
Boat was on charter with Hamble School of Yachting and it was well used in the 3 years we owned it. As it was one of the most seaworthy boats it was always 1st choice to sail to Belguim on a Sunday night for the weeks prep Yachtmaster course where miles also counts. It went out in all weathers. I believe it is still with Hamble Sschool of Yachting 11 years later now called Classic Dream.
I think its constant use with a sailing school is a strong testiment to its robustness and durability.
We part-ex'd it 3 yrs latter for a Dufour 38 which is a better sailing boat.
Only probs we had was with the Volvo bits on both the 36 & 38 (between both boats and over 3 years each the gearbox, clutch, folding propeller and engine had to be changed) hence I would now only buy a boat with Yanmar engine but others seem to be more fortunate but perhaps their boats get used less.
houldsworth
Well-Known Member
Re: Dufour 36 Classic year of build 2002 onwards - views please
I've had a D 36 Classic, built in 2000 that lives with a charter co in Greece and moving this year to another co in Turkey.
Boat still in very good condition and no major failures in its life.
Can't wait to get back out there in May and sail from Ionian to Marmaris. Willing to take one or two crew on any legs of trip via as many islands we can fit in! Anyone interested?
Charles
I've had a D 36 Classic, built in 2000 that lives with a charter co in Greece and moving this year to another co in Turkey.
Boat still in very good condition and no major failures in its life.
Can't wait to get back out there in May and sail from Ionian to Marmaris. Willing to take one or two crew on any legs of trip via as many islands we can fit in! Anyone interested?
Charles
Norman_E
Well-Known Member
I am pretty sure that I did my first sailing course (Comp Crew) on your boat! The only thing it did wrong was that one day as we rounded the Bramble Bank, the steering suddenly stiffened. It turned out to be an autopilot problem that was quickly solved by turning it off.
Having sailed on a number of other boats since, my view is that the Dufour 36 was as well or better built than most of its mass produced rivals, and there was nothing wrong with its sailing abilities.
Having sailed on a number of other boats since, my view is that the Dufour 36 was as well or better built than most of its mass produced rivals, and there was nothing wrong with its sailing abilities.
Sailfree
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
the steering suddenly stiffened. It turned out to be an autopilot problem that was quickly solved by turning it off.
[/ QUOTE ]
Inexperience helms accidently pressing the autohelm button has caught me out many times. Often consider leaving the instrument cover on if autohelm is not going to be used.
the steering suddenly stiffened. It turned out to be an autopilot problem that was quickly solved by turning it off.
[/ QUOTE ]
Inexperience helms accidently pressing the autohelm button has caught me out many times. Often consider leaving the instrument cover on if autohelm is not going to be used.
Sailfree
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Having sailed on a number of other boats since, my view is that the Dufour 36 was as well or better built than most of its mass produced rivals, and there was nothing wrong with its sailing abilities.
[/ QUOTE ]
I have tried/inspected many mass produced boats and while traditionalists knock them I have owned 3 AWB's that have been on charter and well used (and well maintained).
People scoff but a modern AWB is like a Ford Car a lot of boat/car for the money and far better quality/reliabilty/ability than you would expect.
Having sailed on a number of other boats since, my view is that the Dufour 36 was as well or better built than most of its mass produced rivals, and there was nothing wrong with its sailing abilities.
[/ QUOTE ]
I have tried/inspected many mass produced boats and while traditionalists knock them I have owned 3 AWB's that have been on charter and well used (and well maintained).
People scoff but a modern AWB is like a Ford Car a lot of boat/car for the money and far better quality/reliabilty/ability than you would expect.
I
Iota
Guest
Thanks all for the views, now on list of boats to look at
Norman_E
Well-Known Member
I don't knock AWBs, I own one, but just think that the Dufour boats of the late 90's were among the best. The 36 was certainly a strong little boat. As for someone having turned on the autopilot by mistake, I cannot comment except to say that I was not helming at the time. We put the emergency tiller in, and could not steer with that, at which point the instructor said something on the lines of "I think the autopilot has engaged itself" and went below to turn it off. I think he actually knew what the problem was, and may have put it on himself, and just wanted to get us to go though the drill of putting the emergency tiller on.